BepiColombo MPO being placed in Phenix thermal vacuum test facility

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The Mercury Planetary Orbiter, part of ESA's BepiColombo mission to Mercury, placed in the Phenix thermal vacuum facility on 17 January 2012 in preparation for its 'bake-out'. After 23 days of sustained heating to remove potential contaminants the test was completed and the chamber reopened on 14 February 2013.